Share via

When the final penalty was awarded and the chance arose to ink his name into
Lions lore, Leigh Halfpenny did not waver. Striding purposefully forward,
unfastening the chinstrap on his headguard, he told Brian O’Driscoll, the
acting captain, that the kick was within his range.

He began to tee the ball up just inside the Australia half, but Craig Joubert,
the referee, nudged him back to the other side of the halfway line. The kick
was from an uncannily similar distance to that taken by Morné Steyn for
South Africa in the second Lions international four years ago.

The clock

Subscribe now

Login

Already a subscriber?

To see the full article you need to subscribe

Subscribe

Login

1/14

The brilliant Halfpenny is consoled after his kick came up short

July 1 2013 Scott Barbour/Getty Images

The brilliant Halfpenny is consoled after his kick came up short

July 1 2013 Scott Barbour/Getty Images

His team-mates could barely watch as he had this kick to win it

July 1 2013 David Rogers/Getty Images

The ball appeared to be arcing towards the posts before dropping short

July 1 2013 David Gray/Reuters

The match had been turned on its head by this try by Ashley-Cooper

July 1 2013 Times photographer, Marc Aspland

The converted try gave Australia a one-point lead going into the closing minutes